Posted on December 22, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
North Judson may try again for grant funding for a planned community center. The project narrowly missed out on a Public Facilities Program grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins says project organizers met last week with officials from the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission to review the scoring of the project’s grant application. They determined that the project came in third place, but only the top two were selected for funding. KIRPC officials felt it would be worth trying again, according to Collins.
North Judson has been partnering with Wayne Township on the project. Collins says one of the next steps will be to meet with the township board, to discuss how they would like to proceed. She adds that the town would like to move forward with some version of the project, and expects discussions to continue in 2017.
Showing posts with label North Judson Wayne Township Community Center. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Judson Wayne Township Community Center. Show all posts
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Thursday, October 13, 2016
North Judson Council Collects Additional Public Input Prior to Community Center Grant Application
Posted on October 13, 2016
Author Tyler Maffitt, WKVI
The North Judson Town Council collected public input once again Wednesday night to gather comments on a proposed grant application for a community center construction project.
This was the second public hearing on the topic – which has garnered sharp questioning from certain members of the public. Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins responded to questions of affordability with a breakdown of the Town’s responsibility.
“That’s what is built into the budget is $15-thousand for 2017,” says Collins. “However, $12,500 of that is to purchase the land and Wayne Township is going to do $12,500 as well. But that’s only if we get that grant.”
Under the proposal, grant funds would be sought through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs to help construct the community center.
If approved, the grant would cover $500-thousand of the estimated $840-thousand project cost. Organizers are also seeking in-kind donations to make-up most of the $300-thousand difference.
So far, the Town of North Judson has also raised about $10-thousand in cash from several donors looking to support the project.
Town Council President Wendy Hoppe says the township has contributed plenty as a partner.
“Thank God we have the township that is in with us just like they were with the fire department,” says Hoppe. “The Township has stepped up to the plate. So, yes, $12,500 the town has said that will be our share. Thank God the Township had enough that they said we need this in this township.”
Discussion was largely split on Wednesday night at North Judson Town Hall on whether the community had properly thought through the order of the projects being undertaken and whether the project was necessary at this time.
There are requirements for being prepared to start construction that goes along with the grant. The grant application is due Friday.
Author Tyler Maffitt, WKVI
The North Judson Town Council collected public input once again Wednesday night to gather comments on a proposed grant application for a community center construction project.
This was the second public hearing on the topic – which has garnered sharp questioning from certain members of the public. Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins responded to questions of affordability with a breakdown of the Town’s responsibility.
“That’s what is built into the budget is $15-thousand for 2017,” says Collins. “However, $12,500 of that is to purchase the land and Wayne Township is going to do $12,500 as well. But that’s only if we get that grant.”
Under the proposal, grant funds would be sought through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs to help construct the community center.
If approved, the grant would cover $500-thousand of the estimated $840-thousand project cost. Organizers are also seeking in-kind donations to make-up most of the $300-thousand difference.
So far, the Town of North Judson has also raised about $10-thousand in cash from several donors looking to support the project.
Town Council President Wendy Hoppe says the township has contributed plenty as a partner.
“Thank God we have the township that is in with us just like they were with the fire department,” says Hoppe. “The Township has stepped up to the plate. So, yes, $12,500 the town has said that will be our share. Thank God the Township had enough that they said we need this in this township.”
Discussion was largely split on Wednesday night at North Judson Town Hall on whether the community had properly thought through the order of the projects being undertaken and whether the project was necessary at this time.
There are requirements for being prepared to start construction that goes along with the grant. The grant application is due Friday.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Monday, August 15, 2016
Public Hearing Scheduled for North Judson Community Center
Posted on August 15, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The proposed North Judson-Wayne Township community center will be up for discussion during a public hearing this evening.
Residents once again have a chance to offer their input on the project. An application for grant funding from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs had to be delayed while the location of the proposed building was called into question. However, by waiting until the fall round of grant applications, some additional funding may be available, since OCRA has increased its maximum grant amount to $500,000 from $400,000. In total, the project’s expected to cost over $800,000.
A letter of intent for the grant funding is due by this Friday. The grant application itself will be due October 14.
Tonight’s public hearing takes place at 6:00 p.m. at North Judson Town Hall, followed by the regular North Judson Town Council meeting at 6:30.
Tonight, council members will decide whether to give their final approval to an updated Golf Cart Ordinance. It would allow properly registered golf carts to be driven at night, if they have the required lighting.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The proposed North Judson-Wayne Township community center will be up for discussion during a public hearing this evening.
Residents once again have a chance to offer their input on the project. An application for grant funding from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs had to be delayed while the location of the proposed building was called into question. However, by waiting until the fall round of grant applications, some additional funding may be available, since OCRA has increased its maximum grant amount to $500,000 from $400,000. In total, the project’s expected to cost over $800,000.
A letter of intent for the grant funding is due by this Friday. The grant application itself will be due October 14.
Tonight’s public hearing takes place at 6:00 p.m. at North Judson Town Hall, followed by the regular North Judson Town Council meeting at 6:30.
Tonight, council members will decide whether to give their final approval to an updated Golf Cart Ordinance. It would allow properly registered golf carts to be driven at night, if they have the required lighting.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
North Judson to Pursue Larger Grant for Community Center Project
Posted on July 20, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Some additional grant funding may be available to help build a community center in North Judson. Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins told the town council Monday that the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs has increased the maximum amount of grant funding to $500,000 from $400,000 for the fall application round.
However, that would mean a greater commitment from North Judson and Wayne Township. “We’re working with KIRPC to just continue to use our amount that we are purchasing the land for, as well as the appraisal amount, to make our grant match because that would be $50,000 instead of $40,000 if we choose to use the extra amount,” Collins said. “We could always go lower, but you don’t really want to.”
In total, the proposed community center is expected to cost over $800,000. Organizers had originally planned to apply for the grant during the spring round, but the application was delayed as town council members reconsidered the proposed location.
With the site now finalized, Collins says the project continues moving ahead. “Letters of why we need a community center have been coming in,” she says. “We’ve gotten about three of them, and the donations have started again. And within the last few weeks, I have been able to meet with the North Judson Kiwanis and Starke County Community Services. Both discussions were very positive. We got feedback from the community and Community Services, and they’re very excited and willing to get more involved.”
She adds that over 60 percent of the required income surveys have been completed and returned. Now the town’s looking for volunteers to go door-to-door to help gather the rest.
Additionally, a request for qualifications has been published for engineers interested in working on the project, with responses due Monday, August 15. A letter of intent for the grant funding is due August 19, with the grant application itself due October 14.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Some additional grant funding may be available to help build a community center in North Judson. Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins told the town council Monday that the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs has increased the maximum amount of grant funding to $500,000 from $400,000 for the fall application round.
However, that would mean a greater commitment from North Judson and Wayne Township. “We’re working with KIRPC to just continue to use our amount that we are purchasing the land for, as well as the appraisal amount, to make our grant match because that would be $50,000 instead of $40,000 if we choose to use the extra amount,” Collins said. “We could always go lower, but you don’t really want to.”
In total, the proposed community center is expected to cost over $800,000. Organizers had originally planned to apply for the grant during the spring round, but the application was delayed as town council members reconsidered the proposed location.
With the site now finalized, Collins says the project continues moving ahead. “Letters of why we need a community center have been coming in,” she says. “We’ve gotten about three of them, and the donations have started again. And within the last few weeks, I have been able to meet with the North Judson Kiwanis and Starke County Community Services. Both discussions were very positive. We got feedback from the community and Community Services, and they’re very excited and willing to get more involved.”
She adds that over 60 percent of the required income surveys have been completed and returned. Now the town’s looking for volunteers to go door-to-door to help gather the rest.
Additionally, a request for qualifications has been published for engineers interested in working on the project, with responses due Monday, August 15. A letter of intent for the grant funding is due August 19, with the grant application itself due October 14.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
North Judson Council Picks Site for Community Center
Posted on June 28, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The North Judson Town Council has officially chosen a site for a proposed community center. Last week, the council decided to stick with project organizers’ original plan to build the facility behind the town’s fire station.
Efforts to obtain grant funding for the facility from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs were delayed last month, while council members reconsidered the location. The land’s owner originally offered to donate it, but later asked the town to pay $25,000 for the rest of the property. That led the town council to consider building the proposed community center on land the town already owns, instead.
While this meant the project missed one grant application deadline, there was also danger that the application would be delayed even further if a location wasn’t finalized quickly. North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins says the selection of a site means work on the project has once again started to move ahead. Fund-raising efforts are once again taking place, and organizers are making another push for residents who’ve gotten income surveys to complete them, to determine the project’s eligibility for grant funding.
A letter of intent for the grant is due August 19, with the grant application itself due October 14. Collins says the $25,000 cost of the additional land will be split between the Town of North Judson and Wayne Township. That purchase will also serve as the local share of the matching grant.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The North Judson Town Council has officially chosen a site for a proposed community center. Last week, the council decided to stick with project organizers’ original plan to build the facility behind the town’s fire station.
Efforts to obtain grant funding for the facility from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs were delayed last month, while council members reconsidered the location. The land’s owner originally offered to donate it, but later asked the town to pay $25,000 for the rest of the property. That led the town council to consider building the proposed community center on land the town already owns, instead.
While this meant the project missed one grant application deadline, there was also danger that the application would be delayed even further if a location wasn’t finalized quickly. North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins says the selection of a site means work on the project has once again started to move ahead. Fund-raising efforts are once again taking place, and organizers are making another push for residents who’ve gotten income surveys to complete them, to determine the project’s eligibility for grant funding.
A letter of intent for the grant is due August 19, with the grant application itself due October 14. Collins says the $25,000 cost of the additional land will be split between the Town of North Judson and Wayne Township. That purchase will also serve as the local share of the matching grant.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
North Judson Council Votes to Proceed with Community Center Project, Delays Additional Decisions
Efforts to build a community center in North Judson continue, as town officials consider a potential location. Organizers had previously planned to apply this week for grant funding from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to help cover the cost of building a new community center on donated land north of the town’s fire station.
However, the current owner decided to charge the town $25,000 for the rest of the land, causing organizers to reevaluate the site. Since a grant application is tied to a specific location, the town decided last month to wait until the next round of grant applications in the fall.
One alternate site that was proposed was on town-owned land on Lane Street, but some organizers are against this idea, citing a lack of space for a parking lot and the number of dilapidated buildings in the area. During Monday’s town council meeting, council member John Rowe spoke in favor of the Lane Street site, arguing that it would be a chance to help boost Downtown North Judson. “My concern is I just think that I like things to be in town,” he said. “I think we need to make the town – in town – look better than it does. I mean, it’s dilapidated, everywhere you look. Why are we going to add here, add there, add here? It doesn’t make any sense to me. I think we need to fix town. This is the attraction.” Project organizers say another site, closer to the town’s park, may also soon be available.
However, North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins told the town council that if the project’s going to proceed, council members are going to have to start making decisions, “If we’re going to do this in the fall round, it has to be done and a letter of intent has to be done in July, so we cannot let this sit for very long. We still have to keep working with it. The income surveys are almost finished, which we need to use for that. They kind of put a hold on it because we didn’t know exactly where we were going to go or what was going on with that.”
She says that in the two weeks that ads ran in the newspaper asking for donations, the $3,050 was raised. However, since the project is being delayed, Collins wanted to make sure that fund-raising efforts should continue, especially considering the fact that once money is donated into the Community Center Fund, donors won’t get it back, even if the center isn’t built. She says a lot of work’s been done on the project, but it won’t be able to move ahead without a clear plan, “Don’t say you’re pushing it to the fall round because I’m doing a lot of work for this for nothing. That’s where I have a problem. So if, financially, it’s not going to go any further, we need to tell these people not to keep donating their money.”
Collins says there does appear to be a demand for a community center in North Judson, noting that residents often ask about renting the fire station, which is not set up to host events. She adds that while a North Judson-Wayne Township community center would be much simpler than the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox, it would provide a space for people to use. “It’s a way to keep people in town instead of going to Valpo, going to Knox,” Collins said. “It would help the local businesses. And to be honest, when we met with our OCRA representative, he said ‘If you want to try to boost your economy down here in North Judson, you have to get something that would raise your assessed value, or at least maintain your assessed value because it keeps declining. And the only way we’re going to fund the school budget, the only way we’re going to fund the town is to keep our assessed values the way they are, so that we can have budgets.”
Many council members seemed satisfied with the idea of buying the additional land to build the community center behind the fire station, noting that the necessary studies on the site have already been completed. Also, town was already required to spend $23,000 on the project for the local share of the grant. However, council members decided to wait until their next meeting to officially choose a location. They did vote to continue moving ahead with the project, and fund raising will also proceed.
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